A Year Long Pilgrimage

I really like Leicester.   The city centre is vibrant and energetic, easily walkable, and has a lot of historical buildings which are well kept.  The clock tower in the centre of town.  The municipal building in Leicester  A sculpture highlighting the residents love of sport. Leicester Street scenes You may recall 10 years ago (in March), the big fuss when they discovered Richard 3rd body in a car park in Leicester.  It got quite a lot of news coverage at the time, and there was also a documentary.   Since then, his remains have been re-interred in Leicester Cathedral, and there is now a very interesting and informative visitor centre built where his body was discovered.   A sculpture of Richard 3rd. The pall used to cover the coffin of Richard 3rd As it turns out, it wasn't all a chance discovery.  Research had established that he was buried in the choir of the friary (church) that was there at the time.  It was planned that 2...

Marguerita collected me last week and drove me to Peterborough.   It took quite a while to leave the hotel.  I had been there for 4 1/2 weeks and so I had got to know the staff very well.  There were hugs from many of them, and good wishes from all.  I had left large boxes of Ferroro Rocher for them as a thank you. I managed to walk out to Marguerita's car with my pack securely strapped on my back - slowly, and carefully.  The first time it had been properly worn for 6 weeks! Pack on, and leaving my home of 4 weeks. I was impressed with Peterborough, though I was restricted with how much I could see.  My hotel was about 500 metres from the city centre, and a little further to the Cathedral.  Each day I walked into town, had a rest (cafes are great for that), then walked back, a different way, and put my foot up for the afternoon. Peterborough Cathedral  Inside Peterborough Cathedral  The remains of the cloisters On my first day we walked...

Yesterday was an exciting day.  Not only did I come off the walking frame, but X Rays showed my bones had healed as they should.  This has meant that I can now weight bear on both my arm and my foot.   I can't stop smiling! Just on 15 mins off the frame!a I am to "wean" myself off both the arm splint and my moon boot.  I have been warned that it will be 12 - 18 months till my foot feels normal.  The surgeon wanted me to continue on the frame for another week or so, but with persuasion from me, he agreed that I was walking well and that my good old Pacer Poles were doing a good job at keeping me upright!  Having to stay on the frame meant all sorts of hassles, not least of which was how to return it to the hospital.  Today, wearing the moon boot, I got my own breakfast, went outside for a gentle stroll along the path heading into town, then returned to my room for a rest.  This afternoon I walked out to the restaurant in SHOES!  This is t...

Just over a week ago, on a Saturday afternoon, I met Marguerita.   On Sunday she turned up with a bag of books for me to borrow, and on Monday she took me shopping.  I don't think I've had such fun shopping for years!  We went to Tesco's, a chain supermarket like Coles or Woolies, but this one was huge - about the size of a BigW.  On the ground floor there were the groceries, fruit & vege, toiletries, the bottle shop etc., with the obligatory Costa coffee shop at the checkout exit.  The 1st floor was for clothing, homewares and such like plus another cafe, a perfect lunch spot! I was a bit concerned about how I would be able to hop my way around such a huge expanse, but I had no need to worry.   When we entered through the front door I spied some electric wheelchairs / gophers.   Marguerita went to the desk to ask about them, and we exchanged my frame for a key, and off we went!  Who knew that shopping could be such fun? Life re...